Owl Pellet Dissection

A few weeks ago, Bryson ordered an "Owl Pellet Dissection Kit" from his Scholastic book order at school. He's been so anxious for it to arrive, he was all grins when he brought it home last Wednesday. So cute. The boy, not the pellet. It's a little gross and creepy, but the kid is so very cute. He ceremoniously opened the box, laid everything out on the table and we proceeded to read the instructions. We read all he ever needs to know about owl pellets and how to dissect them and identify the bones.

Do you know what an owl pellet is? Apparently, owls cannot digest the fur and bones of the cute little critters they eat, so it all collects into this nice little pellet that they cough up and drop to the ground. People actually go around collecting them, wrapping them in little foil packets and selling them to kids to meticulously tear apart. Can you say, "EWWWW!"? Well, my cute son that is so intrigued with the insides of critters, especially their bones, thought this was an incredible opportunity. So, we prepped the work area, and away he went!


(See, super cute kid, huh?) He carefully took this thing apart and now has a little container of semi-clean critter bones, complete with a mouse jaw bone a few other great treasures. It took him a couple of hours. He was so happy, it was like heaven for him! I might have to get online and order a few other semi-gross things to use for rewards this summer!